RSD Update

RSD keeps inhabiting our lives and we keeps learning more and more of what we don't want to know. My therapist informed me that my strength in my hand in just a few short weeks had went from a 20 down to a 9 and that the muscles are continuing to atrophy. I can see where my hand in continuing to close this time side to side now. How thankful I am that didn't affect my right hand.

I began to do more research and so many affected with RSD have migraines. How thankful I am that they have found that it is not passed on to our sons through this genetic mutation.

Stellate Ganglion Block

This morning was my first treatment for my RSD. The injection was done in my neck and they gave my just a mild sedation. They informed me that I would have a droppy eye that would last a couple of hours to a couple of days. And if it progressed into something worse to notify them. I still have it and it has been 8 hrs. The doctor told me also that I should see some immediate results in the swelling of my hand and that I would be able to get more movement in my fingers. I have just returned from therapy and my therapist and I have came to the same conclusion that the block isn't working for me. The doctor discussed with Ron and me that I could undergo 5 of these treatments but I don't know if I want to undergo the risk of them as they are injected all the way into the neck back by the spine. And if the first doesn't work why go through the risk and the expense and then have your hopes just gone. So I guess we have about 10 days to decide what to do. In the mean time Josh my therapist is going to look into an AFO to see if we can't find something to keep my hand from closing completely up. Josh is working hard to keep my fingers straight but can't do anything about how far they close. Therapy ends the first part of October and I can't start again until January if there isn't a remission. Will keep you posted. I am hoping that the RSD stays only in the left hand and doesn't spread.
Also I and checking to see if this is inherited as RSDSA send out a report that it can be maternally inherited by a mutated Gene. For my children's sake I sure hope that I am not passing this onto them.

RSD What is that?

Well I learned some new medical lingo this week. My hand hasn't been progressing very well and my therapist call the dr. I received a call back from the surgeon's office today and he informed me that I was going to have to see another specialist as I have RSD. This isn't something the surgeon caused but something your body does because of the surgery. (Should state that not everyone's body does it just a few) You say what? Like in my language please. It is also called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.
It is a malfunction of part of the nervous system and the nerves misfire and send pain signals to the brain (wow I do know that part very well). All this because of a surgery? They said it can happen after a surgery, a fall or accident.
Well after reading up on it I don't know if I really want to have this, like I have a choice in the matter. Therapy continues and hopefully I get into see the specialist soon and see what the next step is.

Ron Update

Ron went back to the doctor on June 18th. The doctor did x-ray's and cast was removed. Hurrah! Ron now has a removable brace which makes it much easier for him which he enjoys, now he can take it off to shower and to scratch his arm. Or should I say rub it. It is a little to tender to scratch.
The doctor also is going to start him with therapy. His first day will be June 23rd. I set Ron up at Turning Point in Fairbury where I am going. I am hoping that his therapy will go okay. He still has major swelling just above his wrist to his fingers and doesn't have much side to side movement of his wrist.

Pictures of the Break in the Arm

Here is what Ron's arm looked like before they did surgery, then just after they took off the wrapping and they put the cast on which was about 10 days. He had so much swelling that they had to hold off. The cast will be on only two weeks according to the dr. He is to have an xray to check things out and then cast removal. If all goes well the cast comes off and then his therapy begins. OUCH!

Ron

I got a call from our daughter-in-law Kim telling me to find someone for Kristi and get to the hospital that Ron fell off the roof. Actually he fell from the endwall of a building 16'. He ended up breaking both the bones in his wrist. He went into surgery for both bones being broke and dislocated. The smaller bone was an open fracture. It took a plate and nine screws to fix the larger of the breaks. The fall happened around 9 in the morning and we made it home about 5:30 in the evening.
I think this will be a rough process for him as he won't be able to stay down and recover like most of us will. To see Ron I have to say we were very thankful as he was pretty banged up on his face. His back and chest hurt pretty bad too. But they asured us that everything else was okay. The only xray's taken were of his chest and arm.
Galen called Kim to take him from the scene and she transported him to the hospital in her car. Kim is our family EMT. We are thankful to have one in the family.

Kristi's New Do

Mom decided Kristi needed a change in hairstyle so we scheduled a haircut and perm. Kristi just loves the new look. She signs the pretty sign and then pats her hair and gives a great big smile. I think for the summer this will work out so good for her.

Anniversary

Today is always such a bittersweet day. We share this day our wedding anniversary and the anniversary of the childrens accident. I always said it was good that I had something good on such a bad day but it seems that the accident always brings a little bit of the bad out more.
So much to be thankful for though. How thankful I am that Patrick came out whole and Kristi has made so many headways but how much I miss that she didn't come fully. That is just the selfishness coming through because I know how much she would of been such a great mother, she was so looking forward to that.
One this day especially is when those moments spill over. The memories of her times and her memories that she shared. I am so thankful that one of Ron's cousins got a picture of her in her wedding gown. Kristi looked so much older in it and so much like a bride.
A mother misses those things with a daughter.
So on our 23rd wedding anniverary and our children 14th anniversary we have made it yet another year!
Thank God for His many Blessings! He has carried us through

Spring 2010 finally here

Spring finally arrives with wonderful 80* temperatures. With it mowing of the grass and the bugs. The magnolia blossooms this year even lasted through a downpour of rain and high winds. How our little grandchildren have loved to climb in its lower branches. I am waiting for the day for it to break down the middle. We cherish the days when they climb in them and then get down safely.

Stitches Removed and 2nd Cast Put On

Slowly but surely I'm making headway to getting my cast off. Went to the dr last Friday and the first cast was removed and the stitches taken out. Kristi wasn't too sure about what they were doing and was trying to make sure everything was okay. She made sure she was close at hand.
Xray showed all was healing well, put another cast on and return in two more weeks.
If all goes well I get the cast off, the pins taken out and I will be in a removal brace. HORRAH!
From there, I think I have to go onto therapy to get my thumb and wrist moving again.
Will let you know from there.
Ever try doing your hair with one hand or anything else?
Have a safe and happy spring and for all the farmers be safe!

Broken Wing

I had surgery on my left wrist Monday where they took out a piece of bone and replaced it with pieces of tendons from my arm. Ron took me down for the surgery and our niece Val Sloller stayed with Kristi while I had surgery. Kristi was such a riot that morning. We got her up and she ate breakfast as usual but Ron wasn't in his normal everyday clothes. Kristi strted looking around the house and then walked over to the hallway to back door. When Vall got here she said am I in trouble? Ron said it was like she was looking for our suitcases. The last two times we have went out west she went with us, she knew we were leaving. She warmed up to Val but Val said she has a mind of her own and she can express it. She has done pretty good since surgery as far as watching my arm. Kim, Galen's wife, one of my daughter-in-laws took us for my recheck appt. yesterday. She does reaaly good with Kristi. So the pictures show where they did the surgery.

Push Button Toilet

Hopefully this toilet will last longer than our other toilets. As my honey says those things we wait for are more appreciated this one sure is. Kristi needed no training she knew just what to do, Home Depot delivered right to our door and it even has a water saver side too if you have little boys, Kristi probably pushes them both but I dont care no more taking off the lid due to broken handles or chains getting caught. Also you can see we did a wonderful upgrade to white, now I just need to do some painting.

New face lift for the windows

We decided to update the windows. We have some pretty large windows in our home facing the east and it is pretty hard to actually get curtains and the rods to fit the windows. After putting the hardwood down in the family room the sun really need to be kept out of direct light of the floor. Finally we found an ad in the paper and yesterday they came and installed the blinds. I also got some for the living room. They do have to come back as the valance didn't come in right and we have some for just a few of the windows by the dining room table but those are adjustable so we can still let the sun filter in on the top or bottom.

Family Pizza Party

We enjoyed a family pizza party with the kids, grandchildren and our first great grandchild last Sunday making the pizza's. We were missing a couple do to illness and working late but enjoyed the time we got to spend together. We are trying to figure out what the next family get together will be, as far as food will be. We had pizza left over and my husband was very thankful to send the leftovers home with the kids so he didn't have to eat it during the week.
Family time is so much fun and the grand children grow so fast.
Where did the time go when our children were young?
Life is so short.
We can't wait until once again all the family will be together for the get together's but with part of them miles across the United States that is hard too do, but they are with us in heart and mind.

Landen

Jan. 13.
After 4 weeks in the full arm cast, They went back in for the half arm cast. Landen was a little nervous when they pulled out the saw to cut off the old cast. He kept telling the nurse "make sure you don't cut me". He was very careful with his arm and wouldn't use it at all or even put it down. He made me hold it up the whole time. He was pretty excited about getting a new cast, but he made sure to ask the doctor if he was going to squeeze it again. He was fine once the doc assured him that he would not squeeze it. He wanted a red "fire" cast this time.


Ryan came that night and sprayed cool flames on it. He loves showing it off to everyone and "burning" them with his fire. I think he might be sad in 2 weeks when he doesn't have his cast anymore. It has been a great shield against all kinds of weapons and of course he won't be like the real ghost rider when he is not on fire anymore.

Christmas 2009 celebrated on January 3, 2010

Christmas at our house if FINALLY over. Some were wanting it to be over so much sooner. I got really sick the weekend we were going to have it and couldn't of cooked the meal for everyone.
There were smiles and frowns when the day finally got here. School started the next day too so the younger ones needed to get home to bed.
I made the turkey the day before and we had it all cut up and just needed to reheat it on Sunday.
Ron & I got the table ready for 21. We can only set 20 at the table so Kristi & I ate together in the dining room. We were missing Patrick's family which would be another 4 and Alesha's which total 6. For another 10 we would of had to set up more than one more table. I am very thankful for my big dining room oak table that opens up to hold almost all of us. I guess we didn't plan for the family getting so big.
And now that the next generation of great grandchildren is coming up, where will we fit them? I am hoping that no more are born for awhile as far as greats are concerned.
Next step getting our table leaves out and putting the dining room back to order. We usually just open up all the way for company and kids.
We also co-hosted the Schaffer Christmas so we had a busy holiday. I actually really got sick on that day and left,my husband had to take over. I am thankful one of our kids brought me home. On Christmas we usually find out what holiday we have for the next two years. I have Easter for 2010 and Thanksgiving for 2011 and then most likely 2012 will be Christmas again. Not many missed this get together except for some of our children and we still had 95 there for the meal. My husband comes from a very big family but a very supportive one. I have been blessed with a great family.
May GOD be with you all during 2010 and may He bless you all! May He give you not more than you can handle.
God Bless!
Happy 2010

Schaffer Family Christmas w/Mom & Dad

The Peter & Emma Schaffer Christmas was held this year at Karl & Bethany's community room.
We we thankful for all those that made it. We were near 94 in number with most of the familes in attendence.
Lynn & Ron's family were in charge this year so we had it a little different. We were having our get together at 9:30 in the morning so we did a breakfast. Lynn older children help cook up the pancakes. Becky & I had the sausage in the roasters cooked and heating ready for everyone to eat.
The family gathered for the family Christmas caroling before the gifts. The younger ones get to open gifts from Grandpa and Grandma while the one 13 and older get their gifts in other forms. Also for those over 13 can participate in a grab bag. That can really get interesting.
This year I didn't make it through the whole family gathering but some wonderful in-laws helped my honey clean up while I went home by way of one of our sons and his wife. Thank you so much!
We missed Beck and her family from FL, and two of our kids, Patrick and his family & Alesha and hers. We are so thankful that we still are blessed to have Mom & Dad with us. The family each year continues to grow either by marriage or birth. May God continue to keep blessing each family as they add each addition.